View outfit.



PATENTED JULY 19, 1904.

R. R. WHITING.

VIEW OUTFIT.

.APPLIGATION FILED 11110.7, 1903.

H0 IODEL.

HMHL Wilkes-5::

whiff.

Patented July 19, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD R. VVHITING,

OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

VIEW OUTFIT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 765,219, dated July 19, 1904. Application filed December '7, 1903. Serial No. 184,027. (No model.)

To rtZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RICHARD R. WI-IITING, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in View Outfits; and I do declare the following to be a clear, full, and exact description thereof, attention being called to the accompanying drawings, with the reference characters marked thereon, which form also a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in view outfits of the kind illustrated in Patents Nos. 695,978 and 720,204, previously issued to me. These outfits comprise a view-glass or lens-holder, which may be a graphoscope for viewing plain pictures or a stereoscope for viewing double pictures or so called stereoscopic views. They comprise, further, a support or holder for the views, adjustable with reference to the view-glasses for focusing, and finally a suitable case or box is provided, which may compactly contain the entire outfit, which is folded up after use, and which in addition affords storage-space for pictures. The parts are accordingly arranged, specially fitted, and connected to eaehother so that they may be folded up in the manner indicated, the construction of one part being therefore dependent on and suited to meet the construction of the other parts and correspondingly arranged.

The object of my present invention is to arrange a view outfit in a manner that it is not dependent on the use of any particular-viewglasses specially fitted to the outfit, but permits me to use the usual hand view-glass or so-called scope, a name by which the same is commonly known among the trade.

The invention consists, accordingly, of a storage-box for picturesanda holder to support such to be viewed, both connected to each other so that the former may serve as a support for the latter to hold it at proper elevation and angle, which is adjustable to suit the user. The holder serves at the same time as a lid to close the box, thearrangement being such that the commercial view-glass mentioned, being of typical-sizeand shape, may be used in connection with the outfit for viewing pictures, as well as receivedby it while not in use.

In the following specification, and particularly pointed out in the claims following, is

found a full description of the invention, together with its manner of use, parts, and construction, which latter is also illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 in a perspective view shows the entire outfit in position ready for use, a set of views being indicated in dotted lines. Fig. 2 shows a side view of the same folded up. Fig. 3 is a top view of the box opened out and showing also under side of the top. Fig. 4is a cross-section of the upper part of the box.

10 is the storage-box for the views and may be divided by partitions 11 into compartments to provide for assortment of the views in different groups as to their style and character. It is provided with a hinged lid 12 to close its open top, which lid forms also with its upper or outer side the base of the view-support, meaning thereby that device by which the views are held in an upright position for observation through the glasses. While so supported they rest edgewise on wire ways 13 and lean on upright members 14, also of wire. Stops 15 prevent the views from sliding off forwardly on their lower edges. The pictures are confined to their position endwise between walls 16, rising from the ends of the lid. Fig. 1 in dotted lines and Fig. 4 show the manner of supporting the views most plainly. Since the hinged top of the box is arranged as to dimensions to meet the sizes of the views in its functionas a view-holder, it follows, again, thatstorage-box 10 is arranged and proportioned -aceordingly that is, to meet this top. The picture-support is so arranged that always a set or pack of views maybe resting thereon, for which purpose the distance between stops 15 and uprights 14 is accordingly spaced. (See Fig. 4.) The front picture is the one in View and after seen is lifted up and pushed in behind the I the proper focus is obtained.

upper part of upright members 14 is bent at an angle, as shown at 14, thereby serving as a guide to lead the lower edge of the pictures down into the proper position. (See Fig. 4.) A set of pictures may thus be conveniently and quickly handled, and after all are viewed they are lifted out and may be replaced by another set from storage-box 10. As a means to protect and sustain the frail wire members walls 16 serve in part, to which another wall, 17 is added, which connects the two. The upper ends of members 14 lean against this wall, and by preference these members, together with ways 13, are made of one continuous piece of wire, the parts on one side being connected to those on the other by an intermediate horizontal branch 18, which branch leans against wall 17 and is held in position thereon by suitable means. For such purpose a groove 19 is provided in the front side of this wall, which receives this member 18. It may be held in this groove by tacks 21, driven down in front of it from above into the edge of wall 17 The free ends of this wire structure are secured by being driven into base 12. Stops 15 may form part of walls 16 or constitute projections thereon.

As before stated, this present outfit is designed so that it may be used in connection with a view-glass of customary style, construction, and size, and as the same is manufactured by the general trade. These view-glasses consist of a suitable lens-holder surrounded by the usual hood 22. Extending rearwardly from these parts there is a shank 23, which as to dimensions is usually of certain standard sizes and receives the picture-holder which supports the views while they are observed. This picture-holder (not shown here) is fitted to shank 23 in a manner to be slidable thereon to permit focusing. A handle 24 is provided by which the device is held in one hand while being used. In using such a view-glass in my device and instead of placing the viewholder on it the former is attached to the view-holder, the attachment being a slidable one to permit focusing. The attachment consists of simply inserting shank 23 into a way 25 cut into and extending transversely across lid 12, the way being open at both ends, so that shank 23 may pass entirely through, permitting it also to be freely slid back and forth for purpose of adjusting the focus. (See Fig. 4.) A suitable friction-spring 26 is provided, exerting sufiicient yieldable pressure against shank 23 to hold it in its adjusted position. This spring occupies a recess 27 on the under side of top 12 and bears against the side of shank 23. The outfit is used as best shown in Fig. 1, the view-glass by means of handle 24 being slid back and forth on lid 12 until The views leaning against members 14 and held back by stops 15 are manipulated as before explained and as shown in Fig. 4.

The most convenient way of using the device is by placing it on a table and sitting in front of it. In such position the view-glass may be adjusted to suit the .height of the person and line of vision by an angular adjustment of the view-holder with the view-glasses on box 10. This adjustment is maintained by a prop 28 in form of a pin placed in one of a number of holes 29, entering edgewise from the upper end of one of the ends of box 10. The angular elevation may be varied according to which hole is used. After use of the device any views remaining on top of lid 12 are placed inside of box 10. Pin 28 is placed in a hole 31 of sufficient depth to receive it entirely, so as to permit lid 12 to be closed down onto box 10. Space to receive the head of pin 28 is provided by a countersink around the mouth of hole 31 or above it. The viewglass is pulled out of way 25 and handle 24 is folded up against it, as shown in Fig. 4. The shank of the view-glass is finally inserted from the top into a way 32 similar to Way 25, such way passing through lid 12 and down on the inside of the front of the boX, it being contained in both of these parts. In this position it serves also as a means to hold the lid of the box closed, since this lid cannot be raised without the previous withdrawal of the view-glass. A friction-spring similar to spring 26 is provided adjacent to way 32 to prevent the scope from working too freely or from dropping out in case the device is upset. 33 represents guards across both ways 25 and 32 to guide the end of the shank when inserted and to hold the latter in position. When so closed up, the outfit appears as shown in Fig. 2, its bulk being greatly reduced, and all parts are compactly held together.

The outfit may also be used without attach ing the glasses to the box, the hand view-glass being simply held in the hand, the pictures being viewed while resting on top of the box and supported by the view-holder.

Having described my invention, I claim as new 1. In a view outfit, the combination of a suitable base, a view-holder on top'of the same, and a recess or way provided on its under side fitted to receive detachably the shank of a viewg ass.

2. In a view outfit, the combination of a storage-box, a lid for it, means to permit detachable connection thereto of the shank of a view-glass and a support for the pictures to be viewed. 1

3. In a view outfit, the combination of a storage-box, a lid for it and a permanentlyattached view-holder on top of this lid.

4. In a view outfit, the combination of a storage-box, a lid for it, a view-holder on top of this lid and a way formed through this lid fitted to receive the shank of a view-glass.

5. In a view outfit, the combination of a storage-box, a lid hinged to it, a view-holder on top of it, a way formed through this lid fitted to receive removably the shank of a view-glass for viewing pictures and a similar Way contained in the front parts of lid and box also fitted to receive the same shank after use of the device.

6. In a view outfit, the combination of a storage-box, a lid hinged to it, a view-holder on top of it, means to permit detachable connection to this lid of the shank of a view-glass, a prop to hold this lid in angular elevation and a series of openings adapted to receive this prop and serving to adjust this elevation.

7. A holder to support pictures while being viewed, consisting of a base, wire ways upon which the pictures are adapted to rest edgewise secured thereto, uprights against which the pictures may lean and stops to retain the pictures at their lower edge.

8. A view-holder to support pictures, consisting of a base provided with a recess or way fitted to receive the shank of a view-glass,

wire ways secured to the upper part of this base upon which a set of pictures may rest edgewise, upr1ght members against which they may lean and stops to retain them in this base, wire Ways on top of this base, up-

right members sustained by one of the Walls mentioned and stops at the front edge of the other two walls.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD R. WHITING.

Witnesses:

ALBERT MOEBUS, O. SPEUGEL. 

